Automatic phonograph



- y 1943- B. F. WISSNER 2,318,654

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 9, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 291' an??? :INVENTOR. BENJAM/N F. w/s'sws/a flTTOP/VEY May 11, 1943.

B. F. WISSNER AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN E W/SSNER.

A7 7'70RNEY lllIL Filed May 9, 1941' y 1943- I B. F. WISSNER 2,318,654

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 9, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

- .W/SSNEE @4 10], SWAMP May ,1943; B. F. WISSNER 2,318,654

I AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 9, 1941 7 Shee ts-Sheet 5 A INVENTOR. BEIYJAMIN F. W/ssNEE rbxzwiy Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC rnonoomn BenJamin F. Wissner, New York, N. Y. Application May 9, 1941, Serial No. 392,740

23 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic phonographs. It is particularly directed to an automatic phonograph having means for successively playing opposite sides of a plurality of stacked phonograph records.

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic phonograph oi the character described, having means for automatically successively playing opposite sidesof stacked records,-

all of which are either one orthe other of two different diameters, or which are voi' both diameters.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic phonograph of the character dc-- scribed, including means for first playing the upper side of the topmost record in the stack, then lifting the topmost record off the stack and playing the underside of the lifted record; then playing the upper side of the next record; then lifting said next record and playing the underside thereof, and so forth.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an automatic phonograph ofthe character described, comprising a turntable on which the stack of records to be played are mounted, and means to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack, and thereafter raise the turntable, and take off thetopmost record and hold the same while the turntable lowers with the remainder of the records in the stack, and thereafter play the underside of the engaged rec- 0rd, and to thereafter play the upper side of the then topmost record of the stack on the tumtable, and repeat the cycle of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic phonographoi the character described, in which any number of records up to a predetermined number 01 records may be successively played, and which will automatically 1 stop after all of the records in the stack are played, and including means to skip playing of any record in the stack.

Yet another object of this invention is to proa spiral groove to quickly bring the stylus to a point where it will start playing the ten inch record. In accordance with-the present invention, if all of the records in the stack are ten inch records, the rings are not necessary, as the machine may be regulated to play the ten inch.

records directly. I

'Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and durable automatic phonograph of the character described, which 1 shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture,-

easy to manipulate, smooth andpositive in action, and yet practical and efllcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea-' tures of construction, combinations of elements.

and arrangement of parts which will be exempiified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative em bodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an automatic ph'o nograph embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a back view of the upper portion of the machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig; 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 or Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line is ross-sectional view taken on line of Fig- 6;

is ross-sectional view taken on-line 8-8 of Fig.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |2 |z of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the device for taking oil. the top records from the stack;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 14- of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on lin is-lt-or Fig. 14:

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14, but showing the means for releasing the records from the holder;

, Fig. 1'! is a cross-sectionalview taken on line of Fig.5;

Fig. 18' is a cross-sectional view taken on line |8-|8 of Fig.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the cam for regulating the height of the stylus;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of a ten inch record within a ring, to be used when playing mixed ten and twelve inch records;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the underside of a record and ring receiving the same;

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22--22 of Fig. 20; a

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2323 of Fig. 20; and

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a shim used between the ten inch records when playing only ten inch records. 1

Referring now in detail to the drawings, |0

designates an automatic phonograph embodying the invention. The same comprises a housing, base or frame having a bottom horizontal wall l2, and an intermediate horizontal wall l3, and a top horizontal wall I4, a front wall It, a rear wall l5. and side walls I! and I8. Attached to the underside of the clutch 55 the top wall I4, adjacent the side walls I1 and l8. and at the rear wall i5, are a pair of upstanding, parallel brackets 20 having horizontal forwardly extending arms 2| at the upper ends thereof. Said arms 2| are formed with longitudinal slots 22, enlarged downwardly at the ends thereof, as at- 23 and24, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The bottom wall I2 is formed with an upwardly extending, central socket 30. within which is a ball thrust bearing 3|. Said bottom wall I2 is -furthermore formed with an upstanding socket 32. within which is a ball thrust bearing 33. Socket 32 is ofiset from the socket 38.

The intermediate horizontal wall i3 is formed with a central opening receiving a bearing bushing 35, aligned with socket 30. The top wall I4 is also formed with a central opening receiving a bearing bushing 31, aligned with bushing 35 and socket 30. Extending through bushing 35 is a vertical shaft 38 resting at its lower end on the thrust bearing 3|. Shaft- 38 extends through bushing 31 up to substantially the height of the slotted arms 2|.

Slidably mounted on vertical shaft 38, and keyed thereto, is a sleeve 48 carrying a turntable 4| at its upper end, disposed above the top wall l4. The turntable 4| is adapted to carry a stack of records R to be played.

Means is provided for rotating the turntable 4| in opposite directions. To this end, there is mounted on wall l3 an electric motor M having a horizontal output shaft 44 disposed below wall |4. On shaft 44 is a worm 45. Suitably supported on bottom wall i2 is a rotary shaft 45 carrying a worm wheel 41,-meshing with-worm 45. On shaft 45 is also a beveled gear 48, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on bottom wall I2 is a bracket 50 having horizontally aligned bearing 5|, journalling a shaft 52. Shaft 52 carries a beveled gear 53 at one end meshing with beveled gear 48. On shaft 52 is a gear 54 and also a beveled gear 55. Slidably mounted on vertical shaft 38, and keyed thereto, is a reversing clutch member 55 carrying oppositely disposed beveled gears 51 and 58 at the ends thereof. when beveled gear 58 meshes with beveled gear 55, vertical shaft 38 is rotated in one direction; (shown by full line arrow) and when clutch member 55 moves downwardly so that beveled gear 51 meshes with beveled gear 55, said shaft 38 is rotated in an opposite direction (as shown by dotted arrow).

Means is provided for reciprocating the clutch 55. To this end, wall I8 is provided with a bearing opening aligned with socket 32, in which is journalled a vertical shaft 50, the lower end of which contacts the thrust bearing 33. Carried by shaft 50 is a cam 5|. Pivoted to the bracket 50 is a bell crank 52 having one arm contacting Connected to the other end of bell crank 52 is a connecting rod 83 having a slot portion 54 receiving the shaft 50. On the connecting rod 53 is a roller 55 contacting cam 5|. Bell crank 52 is interconnected to the bracket 50 by a coil tension spring 58.

It will now be understood that as shaft is rotated. in a manner to be hereinafter described, the cam'5l through its contact with roller 55, will rotate the bell crank 52 to lift the clutch 55, during part of the rotation of shaft 80, and will permit the spring 55 to rotate the bell crank in a direction to permit the clutch 55 to lower, during another part of rotation of the shaft 50. Thevertical shaft 38 is thus rotated in opposite directions during each revolution of shaft 50.

Means is provided to reciprocate the turntable 4| so that afterit makes a sufilcient number of revolutions in its lower position, it will be lifted sufficiently for the topmost record R to be taken off the stack, in the manner hereinafter described, and then immediately lowered to a position where the level of the then topmost record is similar to the level of the previous topmost record. To this end, there is mounted on bottom wall l2, a pair of brackets I0 and 1| having bearing openings rotatably and slidably supporting a shaft 12 provided with a pinion 13 meshing with gear 54. At one end of shaft I2 is a beveled gear 15. On vertical shaft 50 is another cam 15 adapted to move shaft 12 to the left at one point in the rotation of the cam, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

On shaft 12 is a shifting clutch TI to shift the shaft I2 to the right, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The wall I3 is formed with an opening 18, and fixed to the underside of the wall is a bracket on which is pivoted a lever 19, the lower end of which engages the shifting clutch ll. Said lever is provided with a spring arm 19a extending upwardly above wall i3, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Bracket I0 is formed with a socket 80 in which is mounted a thrust ball bearing 8|. On the underside of wall i4 is a bearing 82, aligned with the thrust bearing 8|. Joumalled, on and between the bearings 80 and 82, is a vertical shaft 84, to the lower end of which is fixed a beveled gear adapted to be engaged by the beveled gear 15 when shaft I2 is moved to the left. Keyed to shaft 84 is a sleeve 85 provided with an offset finger 81 at its upper end. The lower end of the sleeve 85 is beveled, as at 88. a

Fixed to sleeve 85 is a cam 80 having 'an annular cylindrical wall 9| and a bottom wall 82. Cylindrical wall 8| has an upper edge 93. The upper edge 83 is shaped helically upwardly through degrees, and symmetrically helically downwardly through the other 180 degrees.

Rotatably and slidably mounted on sleeve 85 and resting on the bottom wall 92, is one end 34 of a radial arm 95, the other end 81 of said arm aligned with the lowermost portion of cam edge 83, is an arm 88 provided with a finger I adapted to engage the upper end of lever I8, to rotate the same in a direction for moving shaft 'I2to the right, and disengaging beveled gear II from beveled gear 88. The cam 80 thus makes one revolution during which revolution the turntable is lifted and lowered.

Means is provided to lift the cam bodily a As cam 80. together with sleeve 88 continue to rotate for another 180 degrees, the sleeve rides up on the shims I08 which is moved against the shaft 84, and said sleeve is lifted a height equal to the thickness of one of the shims, so that when the turntable comes down, again, it will be at a level higher than its previous lower level by the thickness of one record. when the sleeve 88 is lifted the height of one shim, the shim IIO corresponding to the shim I08, which has moved inwardly, snaps into position shown in Fig. 8 by reason of the springs II3. Thus, during each revolution of cam 80, the cam is lifted the height of'one shim or the height of onerecord.

height equivalent to the thickness of one record each time it makes one revolution, so that when the turntable is lifted and then lowered, the upper surface of the topmost record will be at a predetermined level, so that the upper surfaces of. the succeeding records may be played by a, stylus at the same level. To this end, there is fixed. to the upper surface of wall I3, a plate I02 formed with a bearing portion I03 extending through the opening in wall. I3, said shaft 84 passing through said hearing, as shown in Fig. 7

of the drawings. I v d On plate I02 are twopairs of vertical aligned guides I04 and I08. Slidably mounted between the guides I04 are ten superimposed, stacked, similar shims I08, each formed with a pair of spaced projections I0'I on one side-thereof. Each shim I08 is furthermore formed at one end with a curved notch I08 adapted to partially receive the shaft 84, and with a pair of outwardly and y be played.

- non-rotatablymounted on bracket I0, a vertical forwardly extending arms I08. :Slidably mounted between'the guides I08 are ten superimposed ,shims IIO of similar thickness to the shims I08,

and likewise formed with notches III symmetrical to the notches I08, and adapted to partially receive the shaft 84. The thickness of the shims I08 and: H0 is similar to the thickness of the twelve inchrecords Rt] 'Rotatably mounted on. plate I02, and disposed between the arms I08 andthe shims IIO, are a pair of vertical rods II2 interconnected at their upper ends by a plate II2a, in which said upper fends are journ'alled. Mounted on said rods II2 aresprings I I3 interconnecting each pair of arms 7 I08 with the shim IIO associated therewith. Thus, each shim I06 is connected to its associated shim I I0 by a pair of springsll3. When the shims I06 are moved inwardly toward shaft 84, the springs II3 will tend to move the shims IIO associated therewith inwardly against sleeve 88 and shaft 84. When the shims I08 are moved outwardly away from shaft 84, the springs II3 will alsomove the related shimsI I0 out of contact with respect to said shaft.

It will be noted that each time, the cam 80 makes one revolution, the finger I00 will move one of the shims inwardly, when the turntable is in lifted position. If ten records are to be played,

all the shims are first moved outwardly, in a manner hereinafter to be explained, so that the lowermost point of the underedge 88 of sleeve 88 contacts plate I02 and is disposed on the side of shaft 84 adjacent the shims I06. As the cam 90 rotates through 180 degrees to lift the turntable, said lowermost point of the underedge 88 moves to the side' of shaft 84 adjacent the shims H0, and at the same time, the finger I00 moves the lowermost shim I08 inwardly beneath the edge 88.

The reason for lifting the cam 80 during each revolution is because the upper surfaces of the records R are played by aneedle I I8 on arm I18 which always moves to the same position for playing the upper surface of the topmost record on the turntable, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. Also because the turntable is raised always a predetermined height by cam 80, and this height mustalways start at the same level.

Means is provided for-moving all of the shims I08 outwardly or inwardly: or any number of shims from the top down outwardly, whereby any, number of records up to a maximumnumber may (Tenirecords as illustrated in the drawings.) To this end, there is slidably and shaft III extendingthrough a suitable opening in wall I3. Pivoted to said bracket I0 is a bell crank II8 connected by the link II8 to the lower end of a lever I20. Lever I20 extendsthrough an opening in wall I3 and is ivoted to bracket, I2I- about a horizontal axis, as at I22. The upper end of lever I20 passes through a slot I23 in wall I4. Upon swingingthe lever I20 in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 11, rod I I1 will lift to hold the cam 80 in its topmost position.

The slot I23 has a notch I24 at one end so that I the lever may be locked ina position where the cam is supported in raised position. Rotatably and slidably mounted in an opening in wall I3, adjacent slot I23, is a vertical shaft I25, to the upper end of which is attached a flag like plate I28 disposed between the lugs I0I. Attached to the lower end of shaft I25 is a radial arm I21 connected by a link I28 to an arm I29 on the lower end of a vertical shaft I30, passing through aligned bearing openings in the walls I3 and I4,

and rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing openings.

At thefupper end of shaft is a knob I3I, and below the knob is a thickened portion I32 formed with ten notches numbered 1 to 10,

ball I33 adapted to snap into the various notches as the shaft I30 is raised or lowered.

It wfll now be understood that rotation of shaft I30 by means of knob I 3| will cause rotation of Y th flag I28 to throw the shims I06 either out or in.

Means is provided to lift the flag I28 to any desired height, so that any desired number of shims from the top down may be thrown out while the remainder of the shims are in. To this end, there is mounted on wall I3 a bracket I35.

to which there is pivoted a lever I38 having a rotatable, but non-slidable connectionat the opposite ends thereof with shafts I25 and I30.

Thus, movement of the shaft I30 up or down will cause movement of the fiag I20 in an opposite direction.

The notches or portions I32 are numbered from "1 to 10" beginning at the top and going down. If it is desired to play all ten records, the knob I3I is lifted fully until the flag I20 is all the way down. The knob is then rotated to throw all the shims out. If it is desired to play only nine records, knob I3I is first raised fully and rotated in an opposite direction until all the shims are thrown in. Thereafter, the knob is pushed down until the ball I33 snaps int'o notch number "9," and the flag I20 is then swung to throw out all but the lowermost shim. While the shims are being adjusted to desired position, the lever I20 is pulled back to raise the cam and locked in notch I24. Thus, any number of records'may be played by regulatingthe shims as described above. If five recordsare to be played, only the topmost five shims are thrown out, and the remainder of the shims are not. If four records are to be played, only the topmost four shims are thrown out and all the shims therebelow are thrown in, and so forth.

Means is provided to take off the topmost record as the turntable is lifted, and to store the records which are taken oil. To this end, there is slidably mounted on the arms 2I, a transverse horizontal member I35a, the ends whereof are received in slots 22. Pivoted to arms 2| adjacent the forward ends of slots 22, are levers I35b to press down on the ends of member Ia when said member is within portions 24 of said slots. Said levers have weighted arms which drop when member I35a drops into slot portions 24, and arms to swing said levers up to permit movement of member I350 rearwardly.

When member IBM is moved forwardly, the ends thereof may drop into the enlarged portions 24 of slots 22. Said member I35a furthermore may be lifted and pushed rearwardly so that the ends thereof will drop into the enlarged portions 23 of slots 22. Said member I35a is formed with a central ball bearing I30, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on and keyed to the upper end of shaft 38 is a holder H comprising a circular plate I31 formed witha central upstanding socket I30 to receive the upper end of shaft 30. Extending outwardly from the socket I38 are a pair of finger engaging handles I30 and a central upwardly extending short post I40. The post I40 is adapted to rotatably fit into the bearing I35.

Extending downwardly from the periphery of plate I31 are four or more equiangularly spaced, vertical arms I42, each formed with a horizontal slot I43 adjacent .its lower end. Attached to each arm I42 are a pair of vertically aligned, horizontal headed screws I44 on which is slidably mounted a vertical plate I45 having slots I46 to receive the shanks of said screws. Each plate I45 is formed with a pair of inwardly extending wings I41 engaging the opposite edges of arm I42. Each sliding plate I45 has a vertical slot I41a forming bifurcated arms M0, the lower ends of said arms having downwardly and outwardly beveled portions I43. Attached to each arm I42 is a spring I50 disposed within the slot I41a and between the arms I40. Spring I50 has a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion curved inwardly at its lower end.

Within each slot I43 is slidably mounted a horizontal catch I5I, longitudinally slotted to receive a transverse fixed pin I52. The lower end of drawings.

spring I00 engages the outer end of catch I5I normally urging the catch inwardly. The catch I5I is 'r-shaped horizontally, being formed with side extensions I5Ia at its outerend adapted to overlap the beveled portions I43 of plate I45.

Within the holder is a circular weighted plate I00 having notches IOI to receive the arms I42. When the plate I00 is raised it will engage the wings I41 and slidably move the plates I45 upwardly to cause the beveled portions I43 thereof to push back the catches to release the records within the holder, as shown in Fig. 16 of the Thus, when the holder is full of records, the transverse member I35a may be lifted to disengage the post I40 and move rearwardly out of the way. The entire holder may then be grasped by the finger engaging portions I33, lifted off the phonograph and placed on a table. Plate I00 may then be raised to cause the catches III to be retracted to release all the records. The entire holder may then be lifted off, leaving the records on the table.

It will be understood that the machine may be provided with two holders, one to play ten inch records, and one to play twelve inch records, the phonograph being provided with means, hereinafter to be described, for playing either ten inch records or twelve inch records.

It will now be understood that the turntable is always raised a predetermined vertical distance, that distance being exactly sufiicient to bring the topmost record on the turntable just past the catches I5I, which serve to hold the record within the holder as the turntable again descends. Thus, each time the turntable is lifted, another record is taken off the tip of the stack and held in the holder. If less than ten records are played, the shims must be adjusted, as heretofore described, to bring the topmost record to be played to a predetermined height. The adjustment of the shims by manipulating the knob I3I is made before the switch for the motor M is turned on, in a manner hereinafter to be described. 7

The arm H0 in addition to carrying a downwardly pointing needle II5, also carries an upwardly pointed needle II5a adapted to play the undersides of the records which have been engaged within the holder H.

Means is provided to play the upper surface of the topmost record R of the stack on the turntable; then to move the arm IIO carrying the styli to neutral position off the record; then to swing the arm out of the way of the records to permit the turntable to be lifted, and then low-- ered; then to play the underside of the record which has been engaged within the holder; then to move the arm again to neutral position and then outwardly away, beyond the peripheries of the records; and then to again play the top side of the then topmost record on the stack, and so for h.

To this end, the shaft 00 projects upwardly through intermediate horizontal wall I3, and mounted on the upper end of said shaft is a cam I03 provided with an annular gear I04. Cam I03 is divided into eight sections of equal angular section I03a and at a higher level than the neutral section I33c. Extending from section I63e is an .inclined section I63). from which there extends swings inwardly in a clockwise directionlooking at Fig. 6 of the drawings, to move the lug I 94 which there'is journalled a sleeve I12, non-slidably mounted within said bushing in any suitable manner. Sleeve I12 may be prevented from sliding by a flanged collar I120. fixed to wall I4. At the upper end of the sleeve I12 is an offset arm I13, to which the arm II8 carrying the styli, is pivoted, as at I14. Attached to the underside of arm I I6 is one end of a spring I 15, the free end of said spring overlying said sleeve. The sleeve I12 is directly above the path of the cam sections of cam I63. Slidably mounted within said sleeve is and I11, the lower end of which is adapted to contact said cam sections, and the upper end of which is adapted to contact spring I10. Slidably and non-rotatably engaging the lower end of sleeve I12 is an arm I19, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

beyond the collar 202 and again start rotation of the beveled gear I93.

Fixed to shaft I9I and disposed above the wall I3, is a member 206 having a circular bottom portion 201 provided with two segmental sets of spacedv gear teeth 208 and 209. Said gear portions are adapted to mesh with the pinion I64 of cam member I63, and each of said gear portions are adapted to rotate the cam I63 through an angle of 90 degrees.

on circular portion 201 is a cam portion 2I0 having a circularperipheral portion 2 extend- Fixed to said sleeve I12 is another arm I19, to

the outer end of which there is pivoted a ratchet arm I80. A spring I8I urges the ratchet arni I80 to rotate in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 6 of the drawings. A stop I82 on arm I12 further limits rotation of said arm I80 in one direction. A spring I83 tends to rotate arm- I19,

and hence sleeve I12, likewise in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 6 of the drawings. Spring I83 interconnects the arm I19 with a wall of the housing. Fixed to the sleeve is also a cam I85, disposed below wall 54, and having a function to be described hereinafter.

Mounted on bracket 50 is a thrust bearing I90,

and mounted thereon, is a vertical shaft I9I passing through a suitable bearing .in wall I3, the upper end of said shaft being received in a bearing fixed to the underside of wall I4. Fixed to shaft I'9I and disposed below wall I3, is a beveled gear I93. Gear I93 is also formed with a radial projecting lug I94, for the purpose hereinafterappearing.

Journalled on suitable brackets within the housing, is a horizontal shaft I91 carrying a pinion I98 and a beveled gear I99. The beveled the beveled gear I93. Between the beveled gear I99 and the pinion I93, is an annular collar 202 adapted to be engaged by the lug I 94 once during each revolution of the beveled gear I93,.to disengage the' beveled gear I99 from the beveled gear 3 I93. Pinion I98 meshes with pinion 13, and

ing through an angle of 180 degrees. Extending from one end of the circular portion 2 is a radial wall '2I2, from which there extends a circular wall 2I3 of a diameter less than the circular portion 2 II and disposed at the level of the arm I10, when said arm is in its lower position. The circular portion 2I3 is of a height only half the height of the circular portion 2. Above the circular portion 2I3 is another circular portion 2 I4, having the same angular extent as circular portion 2I3, but of smaller diameter. Extending from the other ends of the circular portions 2I3 and 2I4 is a radial surface 2I5. Extending from the opposite'end of circular portion 2 is also a radial. surface 2I6. The arm I18 is adapted to contact circular portion 2 I I asmember 206 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. When the circular portion 2 passes the arm I18, said arm will be rotated by spring I33 in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 6 of the drawings, until it contact circular portion 2I3. As the member 206 continues to rotate to bring circular portion 2 I3 past arm I18, said arm may further move in a will be engaged by radial surface 2 I6 and move in a counterclockwise direction, until the arm contacts again the circular portion 2| I, during which period the arm I13 is not rotated. The arm I18 the underside of the same record while it is suptherefore rotates continuously while the motor is in operation.

The beveled gear I93 rotates continuously except when the lug I94 pushes against the collar 202 to push back the beveled gear I99. When the lug I94 pushes against the collar, beveled gear I93 stops rotating and the lug continues in engagement with the collar until the beveled gear I93 is rotated further in a manner hereinafter to be explained, so that the lug I94 will pass the collar and permit the spring.'200 to again engage the beveled gear I99 with the beveled gear I93 to I gaged by the ratchet I80, when the arm'I19 ported by the holder, and then bringing the arm II6 back to its initial position. In other words, one complete revolution of cam I63 corresponds to the complete playing of one record.

The operation of the structure thus far described, will now be explained.

The holder is first removed and emptied of its records. A stack of records is then placed on the turntable and the holder replaced. The lever I 20 is then pulled back to raise cam 90, and knob I 3I rotated to throw all the shims out, if ten records are to be played. If less than ten records are on the stack, all the shims are thrown inwardly first, and then the knob I3I pulled up until the proper number shows on portion I32, indicating the number of records on the stack. The knob I 3| is then rotated in a direction to throw out as many shims as there are records to be played counting from the top down. Lever I20 is then released to lower rod III. A knob 225 rotatably mounted on wall I4 may then be rotated to close any suitable motor switch (not shown) to start the operation of motor M. The motor rotates shaft .44, and through the worms and bevel gears, rotates shaft 52.

The machine is initially as shown in the drawings, with the clutch 56 up to rotate the shaft 35 in the direction shown by the full line arrow. The rod I'I'I rests on neutral section lug of cam I52. Arm I15 contacts circular portion 2 of cam 28., and arm H5 is therefore swung outwardly, out of the way of the records. Beveled gear I5! is in engagement with the beveled gear I. Shaft I2 is at the right, and therefore, beveled gear 15 does not engage beveled gear 85.

As the motor continues to operate, member 20' rotates to a position where arm I15 moves inwardly against the cam portion 2Il, and at the same time, rod II'I moves down cam portion mn, being rotated by engagement of segmental gear portion 208 with the gear I54. During this operation, the needle II5 moves into the outermost portion of the groove on the upper side of the topmost record on the turntable. When cam portion 2|! passes arm I'll, the arm ma rotate inwardly and the playing of the record starts because arm Ill has been lowered to bring the needle II5 into the groove. While the record is playi g, the rod I" is on the lower portion Ina of cam I53.

At this time, furthermore, lug or projection I94 contacts collar 202 to stop rotation of member 255 until the record is fully played. Engagementof the needle in the record groove swings arm I18 inwardly so that ratchet I" rotates ratchet 255, and hence rotates shaft ISI and beveled gear I52 sufllcientLv to bring the lug I54 off the collar 202 to again start rotation of the beveled gear and member 255. W

After the record is played, segmental gear pore tion 255 of member 205 again rotates cam ill to raise the rod I" up cam I52, and onto the neutral cam portion I630, lifting the needle II5 of! the record. At the same time, arm I'll is contacted by radial portion 2I5 and swung again outwardly to swing arm 5 out of the way of the records. At this time, the bump lid on cam I5 contacts shaft 12 and shifts the latter to bring beveled gear I5 to mesh with beveled gear 55, causing rotation of shaft 84 and cam ill, to lift the tumtable until the record whose top surface has been played is engaged by catches I5I of the holder. The spring arm 19a may flex to permit shifting of shaft I2. The turntable then moves downwardly to a position higher than its former position by the thickness of one record, as explained heretofore.

During this period, the arm I'll is held in its outwardly swung position by contact with circular edge 2 of cam 2l0. When said circular portion 2| I passes arm I15, said arm again swings inwardly, and segmental gear portion 255 rotates cam I" to cause the rod II'I to ride up cam por-' tion I55d onto high cam portion I526 to bring the needle Il5a into the groove on the underside of the record supported by the holder. To play the underside of the record in the holder, shaft 28 must rotate in an opposite direction.

This result is accomplished by cam 5| which ro-, tates with shaft 50 permitting the spring 55 to.

swing the bell crank 52 to permit the clutch 55 to lower to engage beveled gear 51 with beveled gear 55. Now the underside of the record in the holder is played. while cam portion 2i; moves past arm Ill and lug I54 again contacts the collar 202 to stop rotation of member 205.

When the record is fully played, shaft Ill is rotated by ratchet I80 to again start rotation of member 205. At the same time, cam I62 is again rotated to bring the rod I'll down again to the neutral cam portion I539 lowering the needle Illa out of engagement with the record. Radial cam portion 2I5 then again swings arm I15 outwardly and cam 5i rotates bell crank 82 to reverse the direction of rotation of shaft 55, and the operation is repeated for the next record.

Means is provided to permit playing of ten inch records. To play only ten inch records, a holder similar to the one described, but of a size to reoeive ten inch records is substituted for the holder H which carries the twelve inch records. A stack 01' ten inch records is placed on the turntable in the same manner as described heretofore, except that due to the diflerence of thickness in twelve inch to ten inch records, flat rorund shim washers llll whose diameter is no-larger than the central ungrooved part of the record are slipped over the shaft 38 beneath each ten inch record. To play only ten inch records, arm I'll must be raised so that said arm will cooperate with the cam portion 2I4 instead of the cam 2I2. To this end, there is mounted on wall II, a bracket carrying a lever 245. Fixed to the underside of wall I4 is another bracket carrying a bell crank 24I interconnected to the lever 24. by a link 242. Bell crank 24I is connected by a connecting rod 244 to a knob 245 on wall I4. A y suitable spring pressed ball may hold the knob in ten inch position. To raise arm" I'll, it is merely necessary to rotate the knob 245 for rotating bell crank 2 and hence lever 240. Arm I15 will now move further inwardly to bring the needles H5 and II5a into the grooves of the ten inch records. Otherwise, the operation is similar to the operation of the twelve inch records.

Means is provided to stop the operation of the motor when both sides of the entire stack of records have been played. To this end, there is fixed to the underside of wall I4, a bracket slidably carrying a sleeve 250 provided with a longitudinal slot 25I Within the sleeve is a coil compression spring 252. The cam I which is fixed to the sleeve I12 is adapted to contact the sleeve 250 and move said sleeve to the left during every oscillation of .the cam.

Siidabiy mounted in sleeve 250 is a rod 254 having an upstanding pin 255 passing through the slot 25I. The spring 252 is interposed between, one end of the sleeve 250 and the adjacent end of rod 254. At the opposite end of the rod 254 is a hook 255. Fixed to the underside of wall I4 is another bracket 251 carrying a sleeve 255, through which the rod 254 slides. Pivoted to bracket 25! is a catch 255 adapted to engage the hook 255 and normally maintained in engagement with said hook by a coil tension spring 280.-

It will be noted that the spring 252 is tensioned during each oscillation of cam I85, and that the spring is tensioned when the arm i I6 is in an outwardly swung position.

Fixed to rod 254 is another rod 210 having an offset arm 2', and being slidabiy received in bracket 251. Rod-210 is connected to a radial arm 212 on a vertical shaft 213 controlled by the knob 220. When the knob 220 is turned in one direction to on position, rod 254 is moved to, the right and closes the motor switch which starts the operation of the motor. At the same time, catch 259 engages the hook 255 to keep the motor in operation. The motor will stop automatically when rod 254 can move fully to the left to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 17.

Means is provided, however, for shutting off the machine at any time before all of the records.

on the stack are played. To this end, rod 210 is formed with a longitudinal slot 210a at one end to receive a pin 2101) on arm 212, so that the motor switch knob 220 may be rotated from "on" position to'off" position without shifting the rod 210 or rod 254 to the left. Said construction is necessary because rod 254 is engaged by the catch 259 which is not released until all of the records on the stack have been played. If it is desired to shut oif the machine before all the records are played, the reject knob 23I should be first turned to bring arm'I I6 to neutral position and swung beyond the field of the records. with the rod I11 on cam portion I639 of cam I53.

After the upper side of the last record is played, finger 81 on sleeve 39 will be at the height of the catch 25!! to move the catch out of engagement with respect to the hook 256 and to release rod 254 which will then be moved to .the left by the tension spring 252.

However, it is still necessary to play the underside of the last record, and means i therefore provided to prevent the rod 254 from fully moving to switch opening position until the underside of the last record is played. To this end, there is pivoted to the underside of wall l4 a latch 215 having a finger in the path of rod '254 .and normally urged in a clockwise direction, as

shown in Fig. 1'? by a spring 216.

The latch 215, however, may be held in a position where it will stop movement of rod 254 to switch closing position by a finger 211 fixed to a vertical shaft 218 suitably Journalled' in the machine. At the lower end of shaft 215 is an arm 213 connected by link 280 to a bell crank?" pivoted about a vertical axis above cam 16. 1 On cam is an upstanding pin 19b adapted to rotate the bell crank 23I in a counterclockwise direction to rotate finger 211. The bell crank 25! ,is main tained in contact with the pin 16b by a spring 233.

, 7 portion 294 at its outer end. On shaft I9I is a I circular ratchet 295 engaged by ratchet portion Thus, stop finger 211 is oscillated by each revolution of shaft 60; Oscillation of stop finger 211 causes oscillation ,of .latch 215. This operation, however, does not affect the rod 254 before the finger 81 disengages catch 259 from the hook 255. Whenfinger 31 does disengage the catch 259 from hook 258, rod 254 is moved to the left until it engages the latch 215. At this time, the stop 211 is in the position shown in Fig. 17, and rod 254 is prevented from moving fully to the left to open the motor switch. The next time, pin 10b moves the bell crank 28I, however, stop finger 211 will swing in a counterclockwise direction, lookingat Fig. 1'7, to permit spring 215 to swing the latch 215 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 17, hence permitting rod 254 to move fully to the left to open the motor switch, and stop the operation of the machine.

The pin 16b is so placed as to stop the operation of the machine after the underside of the last record has been played, andthe arm IIB has swung outwardly, and the rod I11 ha moved 294 on rod 293. A spring pressed plunger 231 mounted on a bracket 293, fixed to the underside of wall I4, serves to resiliently pres the ratchet portion 294 against the ratchet portion 295. At any time, when one of the needles moves onto a record to start playing the same, the lug I94 will contact the collar 202 to stop rotation of member 205, while the record is being played. If it is not desired to play the record, knob 29I is rotated to rotate ratchet 295 and turn member 203 to take the lug I04 ofl collar 202, so that beveled gear I93 and hence member 206 will continue rotating to rotate cam I83 and bring arm Hi to neutral position. Arm I18 at the same time will be quickly again swung outwardly without playing through the record, due to engagement of radial portion 2I6 with said arm. Thus, the playing of either the upper side of any record or the underside of any record may be skipped by manipulating the knob 29I.

It has been shown above how the machine can placed within a fiat ring 300. The ring 300 has a thickness of a twelve inch record, and increases the diameter of the ten inch record to twelve inches. The ring 300'i formed on the inner edge thereof with an inwardly projecting fiange 30I, on which the ten inch record rests. At one point. said upper inner edge is formed with a fiat projection 302, parallel to' the flange 30I, the edge of the ten inch record R being received between the fiange 3M and the projection 302. The top surface of the ring 300 is formed with an annular needle groove 303, from which ther extends a spiral groove 304, the spiral groove extending substantially 360 degrees from the groove 303 to the projection 302. The inner end of the spiral groove 304 terminates at the projection 302, as shown in Fig. 20 of the drawings. The in- Thus, when a mixture of ten and twelve inch records are played, the needle II5 comes down on the groove 303 and goes onto the groove 304 and quickly goes off the ring 300 and into the groove 305 of the record R and plays the record. The underside of the ring 300 is similar to the topside thereof, with the exception that the direction of the spiral groove 301 is reversed from the direction of the groove 304, the reason being that when the underside of the record R is played, it rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation when the upper side thereof is played. Also whereas on the upper side, the needle bridges the groove from the fiat ring to the ten inch record by following the groove 304 over the projection 302 to the marginal edge ofthe ten inch record; On the underside, similar result is accomplished by bridging the groove 301 from 'the fiat,ring t the ten inch records marginal j edge by following the groove over the flange 30I to the ten inch edge.

downwardly onto the neutral cam portion I539."

Means is provided to skip the playing of either the top side of any record or the underside of any record. To this end, there is Joumalled within the shaft 213 an inner shaft 290 carrying a knob 29| at its upper end. Attached to the lower end of shaft 290 is an arm 292connected to a horizontal rod 293. The rod 293 has a ratchet Ten inch records are somewhat thinner than twelve in-ch records, and for this reason, when er 3I0 is placed beneath each ten inch record.

The shirn 3I0 has a central opening 3II, similar to the central opening .in the record, and ma be of several inches diameter although less than the ungrooved portion of the record. The thick- The shims or washers 3I0 compensate for the difference in thickness between the ten inch records and the twelve inch records. This compensation is necessary because the shims 06 and I ID are equivalent to the thickness of twelve inch records. The washers 3!!! are preferably made of transparent, resilient plastic material, such as Vinylite. The transparency of the washer permits the labels on the records to be read. The resiliency thereof absorbs shock when the tumtable meets with the holder in relative motion, and said washers furthermore act as traction means to prevent slipping between the records, particularly when a relatively large number of records are used.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpeted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked. a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder to. take oil the topmost record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, and means s nchronized with the lifting and lowering means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside ,of the record which was taken off the stack by 2. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked, a holder abovethe turntable, means for lifting and lowering the turntable, means to rotate the turntable in one direction when it is in its down position, means on .the holder to takeoff the topmost record each time the turntable is lifted, an arm carrying a downwardly pointing needle and an upwardly pointing needle, means for moving the arm into position for the downwardly pointing needle to engage the upper side of the topmost record on the stack, to play the same while the turntable is in down position, means to raise the arm after the upper side of the topmost record has been played, to take the downwardly pointing needle off said record,

means to move the am out beyond the record to permit the turntable to be lifted and then lowered, and to move said arm into position where the upwardly pointing needle engages the underside of the record taken off by the holder, for playing the underside of the record which has been taken off the stack by the holder, and for then lowering said arm to remove the upwardly pointing needle from the underside of said record carried by the holder, and means to rotate the record carried by the holder in an opposite direction, while the underside of the record carried thereby is being played.

3. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked, a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder to take off the topmost record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, and means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively .play the underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, said lifting and lowering means including means to stop the lowering movement of the turntable each time it is lowered at such a position that the upper surface of the topmost record on the tumtable is always at a predetermined level.

4. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a tumtable mounted thereon and for rotation therewith, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and for rotation therewith, and disposed above the turntable, means for automatically repeatedly lifting the turn-table and lowering the same, and means on the holder to take off the topmost record only on the turntable each time the tumtable is lifted, and means synchronized with the first means to successively play one side of each record while it is on the turntable and the 0D- posite side thereof after it is taken off the turntable by theholder, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer.

5. An'automatic phonograph of the character, described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted. to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable eachti-me the turntable is lifted, and mean for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable.

6. An automatic .phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked, a holder above the turntable. means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder to take off the topmost record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means, to pla the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, and means to control said playing means to cause the same'tc skip the playing of either side of any of the records on the stack.

7. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plura;ity of records may each time the turntable is lifted, means synchro-.

nized with the lowering and lifting means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside of the record which wastaken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the recordthen at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last-means including a reproducer, and mean to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, and means to stop the operation of the phonograph after both sides of a predetermined number of records have been played.

8. An automatic ep'honograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of record may be stacked, a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on .the holder to take off the topmost record of the stack of records on the tumtable each time the turntable is lifted, means synchronized with the lowering and lifting means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, means to control the playing means to cause the same to skip the playing of either side of any of the records on the stack, and means to stop the operation of the phonograph after both sides of a predetermined number of records played.

9. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same onsaid shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each-lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, and means to adjust the initial position of said turntable.

10. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack 'of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the. turntable is lifted, and means have been for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering move ment of y the turntable, said lifting and lowering means includmg means to stop the lowering movement of the turntable each time it is lowered at. such a position that the upper surface of the topmost record on the turntable is always at a predetermined level.

11. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to i take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable i lifted, means for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, and means to play the upper side of each topmost record on the stack and to play the underside of said record after it is taken off the stack by the holder.

12. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprisinga vertical shaft, a tumtable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means and said rotary means to apply a needle to the upper side of each topmost record, to play the upper side-cf each topmost record on the stack and apply a needle to the underside of said record to play the underside of said record after it is taken ofl the stack by the holder, and means to automatically stop rotation of the shaft after all of the records on the turntable are played.

13. An automatic phonograph of the Ohm-- ter described comprising a vertical shaft. a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predeter mined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take cfi the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means and said rotary means to apply a needle .to the upper side of each topmost record, to play the upper side of each topmost record on the stack and apply a needle table mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stackof recdie to engage the outer groove of the upper side of the topmost record on the turntable to play said side or said record while the turntable is in lowered position, and to then move said arm up to disengage said needle from said record after said record has been played, and then to-move said am to one side beyond said records to permit said turntable to be lifted, and to then move said arm to a position for the upwardly pointing needle to engage the underside of said record after it is taken oil the turntable by the taking off means of the holder to play the underside of said record, and then to lower said arm to disengage said upwardly pointing needle from said underside of said record, and then to move said arm to one side beyond said records, and then to lower said arm and again position said arm to bring the downwardly pointing needle into the outer groove of the upper side of the then topmost record on the turntable to play said side thereof, and to repeat said movements of said arm in phase with the lifting and lowering means and with the rotating means.

15. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carrya stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means for alternatingly rotating-said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, an arm carrying a downwardly pointing playing needle and an upwardly pointing playing needle, means to move the arm into position for the downwardly pointing needle to engage the outer groove of the upper side of the topmost record on the turntable to play said side of said record whilethe turntable is in lowered position, and to then move said arm up to disengage said needle from said record after said record has been played, and then to move said arm to one side beyond said records to permit said turntable to belifted, and to then move said arm to a position for the upwardly pointing needle to engage the underside of said record after it is taken off the turntable by the taking off means of the holder to play the underside of said record, and then to lower said arm to disengage said upwardly pointing needle from said underside of said record, and then to move said arm to one side beyond said records, and then to lower said arm and again the holder position said arm to bring the downwardly pointing needle into the outer groove of the upper side of'the then topmost record on the turntable to play said side thereof, and to repeat said movements of said arm in phase with the lifting and lowering means and withthe rotating means, and means to stop the operation of said rotating means, lifting and lowering means and arm moving means when all of the records on the turntable have been played.

16. An automatic phonograph of the character described comprising a vertical shaft, a turntable mounted thereon and keyed thereto, said turntable being adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, and disposed above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting the turntable a predetermined distance from initial position and lowering the same on said shaft, means on the holder to take off the topmost record on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means. for alternatingly rotating said shaft in opposite directions after each lifting and lowering movement of the turntable, an arm carrying a downwardly pointing playing needle and an upwardly pointing playing needle, means to move the arm into position for the downwardly pointing needle to engage the outer groove of the upper side of the topmost record on the turntable to play said side of said record while the turntable is in lowered position, and to then move said arm up to disengage said needle from said record after said record has been played, and then to move said arm to one side beyond said records to permit said turntable to be lifted, and to then move said arm to a position for the upwardly pointing needle to engage the underside of'said record after it is taken off the turntable by the taking off means of the holder to play the underside of said record,

and then to lower said arm to disengage said upwardly pointing needle from said underside of said record, and then to move said arm to one side beyond said records, and then to lower said arm and again position said arm to bring the downwardly pointing needle into the outer groove of the upper side of the then topmost record on the turntable to play said side thereof, and to repeat said movements of said arm in phase with the lifting and lowering means and with the rotating means, means to stop the operation of said rotating means, lifting and lowering means andarm moving means when all of the records on the turntable have been played, and means to retain the arm from movement which will bring the needles thereon into contact with any side of any record to skip playing of any side of any of said records. A

17. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked, a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder t take of! the topmost record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, andmeans to release all of the records in the holder.

18. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which a plurality of records may be stacked, a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder to take 011 the topmost record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable chronized with the lifting and lowering means, to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively playthe underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at is-lifted, means synmeans to rotate the turntable and holderin opposite directions and relative to said reproducer.

21. In an automatic phonograph, a pair of spaced, rotary record carrying means each adapted to carry a plurality of records, means for rotating one of said pair of means in one direction, and the other of said pair of means in an opposite direction, means for causing relative the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer, and means to automatically stop operation of the phonograph after a predetermined number of records have been played.

19. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable on which aplurality of-records may be stacked, a holder above the turntable, means for repeatedly lifting and lowering the turntable, means on the holder to take record of the stack of records on the turntable each time the turntable is lifted, means synchronized with the lifting and lowering means to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack on the turntable, and thereafter, to automatically successively play the underside of the record which was taken off the stack by the holder, and the upper side of the record then at the top of the stack after each lifting and lowering operation of the turntable, said last means including a reproducer, and means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and means to automatirelative to said reproducer, cally stop operation of the predetermined number of played, and means to vary the number ofrecords phonograph after a g to be played before the phonograph is automatically stopped.

20. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable adapted to carry a stack of records, a holder spaced from said turntable, means for causing relative movement between theturntable and holder toward and away from each other, means on the holder to take off one of. the records on the stack each time the turntable and holder approach automatically play opposite sides of said records. said last means including a reproducer, and

g each other, and means synchronized with said first means, to successively oil the topmost records have been said means rotate.

movement between said pair of means toward and away from each other, means on one of said pair of means to take a record oil the other of said pair ofmeans each time said pair of means approach each other, and means synchronized with the means for moving said pair of means toward and away from each other to successively automatically play opposite sides of the records carried by said pair of means, said last means including a reproducer and means to alternately move the same into engagement with said records on said pair of means and hold the same in engagement with both of said pair of means as 22. An automatic phonograph comprising in combination a turntable member, a holder member in opposed relation to said turntable member, means to rotate said turntable member and holder member in opposite. directions, means to cause relative movement between said turntable member and holder member toward and away from each other, means to cause a record to be transferred from one of said members to the other, each time said-members approach each other, and means synchronized with said first means for playing the exposed sides of the records on the turntable member and the opposite sides of the records on the holder member, said last means including a reproducer, and, means to rotate the turntable and holder in opposite directions and relative to said reproducer.

23. In combination, a turntable, a holder above said turntable, means to move the turntable toward the holder, means on the holder to take a record oil the turntable each time the turntable moves toward the holder, and means on the holder to simultaneously release all of the records in theholder, and means synchronized with the first means to play one side of each record while it is on the turntable and the opposite side thereof after it is taken of! by the holder, said 

